Newspaper pioneer dies at 77

Ex-News International managing director helped set up the first offices in Ireland - at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin

Tom Rice, 77, the former managing director of News International in Ireland, died on Wednesday following a short illness.

As a national secretary with the Electrical Electronic Telecommunication and Plumbing Union in Britain, he was central in the negotiations that led to the transfer of News International newspapers to Wapping.

He subsequently led the union's discussions with Docklands Light Railway in London, saying at the time that he represented "a modern trade union with a style well-suited to their brand of high technology". He later helped to launch Sky Television in Ireland in 1990.

Subsequently he was instrumental in setting up News International's first offices in Ireland.

In 1996, the company's four newspapers, including The Sunday Times, moved to St Stephen's Green, Dublin.

Rice is survived by his wife Cathy, son Peter, and grand-children Charlotte, Georgina, Haller and Clementine. His removal takes place this evening to St Michael's Church in